February 13

Robert Peter Williams'  Birthday
 

 

The Brits love Robbie Robbie Williams. He is the best-selling British solo artist in the UK where six of his albums are among their top 100 biggest-selling albums. The English singer-songwriter’s album sales stands at over 57 million worldwide as of January 2011.

Robbie first gained fame in mid-1990s as is a member of the boy-toy band Take That.  But his drug abuse created problems with some of the band’s members and management. He left the band in July 1995 to launch his solo career after a near drug overdose the night before the group was scheduled to perform at the MTV Europe Music Awards. Robbie has discussed how his friend Elton John booked him into a clinic to cope with his drug use.

His personal demons have not affected his success. He has battled several addictions including prescription drugs ( Xanax, Seroxat,  and Vicodin), energy drinks (Lucozade), food, smoking (up to 60 cigarettes a day), and UFOs. During an 2008 interview with Joss Stone on Britain's The Jeremy Kyle Show , Robbie revealed that he has seen UFOs three times.

After several successful solo albums and tours, 
Robbie  recorded covers of several songs that had been Sinatra standards in 2001. including a duet with Nicole Kidman, called "Somethin' Stupid." The album became successful and sold seven million copies. A song from the album, "Beyond the Sea," was used at the end of the film Finding Nemo (2003).  

After a spectacular solo career, Robbie surprised nearly everyone when in July of 2010he  announced that he had rejoined Take That. In November 2010, the Take That album Progress was released and became the fastest selling album since 2000 and second fastest selling album in UK history. When the band also announced their Progress Live 2011 tour, it was the fastest selling tour in UK history with ticket hotlines and websites crashing under the demand.

Robbie’s first single not to make the top twenty wasSin Sin Sin" released as the fourth and last single from his album Intensive Care in the summer of 2006. However, he made an hysterical video of the song in which he made fun of himself and his numerous affairs, featuring him as the guru of a cult of pregnant women. It was this video that inspired us to select the perfect recipe to celebrate
 Robbie’s birthday which is as easy as sin to make – sin pie
. However, if you serve it to Robbie, he might become addicted to it.
 

Sin Pie

 

Ingredients
 
1 cup flour
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup margarine
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese

 
1 (16-0z) container Cool Whip
2 (3 &1/2 ounce) packages instant chocolate pudding mix
3 cups milk
3/4 cup sugar
 
 
Instructions

This pie is made in three layers

1. LAYER 1: Blend flour, pecans and margarine.
2. Pat down in a 9x13" pan.
3. Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.
4. LAYER 2: Mix cream cheese, sugar and 1 cup Cool Whip.
5. Spread over first layer.
6. LAYER 3: Combine pudding and milk.
7. Spread over second layer.
8. Top pie with remaining Cool Whip.

© 2011 Gordon Nary and Tyler Stokes